Cord connector

ABSTRACT

A cord connector may be used for holding one or more cords. The cord connector includes a first body, a second body, and a bushing. The second body is removably coupled to the first body. The bushing is disposed between the first body and the second body. The bushing includes at least two bushing passages extending from a first end of the bushing toward a second end of the bushing. Each bushing passage is sealed with a membrane. The membrane is disposed within the bushing passage between the first end and the second end. The membrane is configured to be pierced to open the bushing passage.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.63/127,479, filed Dec. 18, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety and to which priority is claimed.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate to a cord connector. Moreparticularly, embodiments described herein relate to a cord connectorcapable of connecting multiple cords.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates, in one aspect, to a cord connector forholding one or more cords. The cord connector includes a first body, asecond body, and a bushing. The second body is removably coupled to thefirst body. The bushing is disposed between the first body and thesecond body. The bushing includes at least two bushing passagesextending from a first end of the bushing toward a second end of thebushing. Each bushing passage is sealed with a membrane. The membrane isdisposed within the bushing passage between the first end and the secondend. The membrane is configured to be pierced to open the bushingpassage.

The present disclosure relates, in another aspect, to a cord connectorfor holding one or more cords. The cord connector includes a first body,a second body, and a bushing. The first body includes a first passagedefined therein. The second body includes a second passage definedtherein. The second body is removably coupled to the first body. Thebushing is disposed in at least one of the first passage and the secondpassage. The bushing includes a plurality of bushing passages definedtherein. Each bushing passage is at least partially blocked by acontinuation of the bushing that spans across a width of the bushingpassage.

The present disclosure relates, in another aspect, to a method of usinga cord connector. The method includes routing a wire through a firstpassage of a first body, piercing a membrane disposed in a bushingpassage of a bushing, opening the bushing passage, routing the wirethrough the bushing passage, routing the wire through a second passageof a second body, coupling the first body to the second body, andtrapping the bushing between the first body and the second body.

Other aspects of the embodiments will become apparent by considerationof the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevation view of a cord connector, accordingto embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation view of the cord connector of FIG. 1disassembled and disposed about a plurality of cords.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the cord connector ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional exploded perspective view of thecord connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded side elevation view of the cord connectorof FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional exploded side elevation view of thecord connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front elevation view of a bushing of the cordconnector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 illustrates a side elevation view of a cord connector, accordingto embodiments described herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates a side elevation view of the cord connector of FIG. 8disassembled and disposed about a plurality of cords.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the cord connectorof FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional exploded perspective view of thecord connector of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exploded side elevation view of the cordconnector of FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional exploded side elevation view ofthe cord connector of FIG. 8.

FIG. 14 illustrates a front elevation view of a bushing of the cordconnector of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure illustrates two embodiments of cord connectors100, 200. Of course, this disclosure may contemplate other additionalcord connectors. Features from one embodiment may be included or omittedin another embodiment to create yet another embodiment, for instance.

With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a cord connector 100 isshown. The cord connector 100 is shown assembled in FIG. 1 and explodedalong multiple cords 102 in FIG. 2. As best shown in FIG. 3, the cordconnector 100 includes a first body 104, a second body 106, a bushing108, and a clamping ring 110.

The first body 104 is illustrated as a unitary body, but otherembodiments may include the first body 104 made of multiple components.The first body 104 may be made of a variety of materials, including oneor more metals (aluminum, steel, stainless steel, an alloy, or thelike), one or more polymers (such as plastic), some combination thereof,or the like.

The first body 104 includes a male threaded section 112, which isconfigured to removably receive the second body 106. The first body 104further includes another male threaded section 114. This other malethreaded section 114 is configured to removably couple the cordconnector 100 to, for instance, a junction box or other housing.Disposed between the male threaded sections 112, 114 is a series offlats 116 configured for engagement by a tool. These series of flats 116may facilitate the attachment of the cord connector 100 to the junctionbox or other housing. The first body 104 further includes a firstpassage 118 defined therein.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the first passage 118 may include afrustoconical section 120 and a cylindrical section 122 in fluidcommunication with each other. The shape of the frustoconical section120 may facilitate the insertion and retention of the bushing 108. Thefirst passage 118 extends completely through the first body 104, suchthat the one or more cords 102 may pass therethrough.

Returning to FIG. 3, the second body 106 is configured to removablycouple to the first body 104. The second body 106 is also illustrated asa unitary body, but other embodiments may include the second body 106made of multiple components. The second body 106 may be made of avariety of materials, including one or more metals (aluminum, steel,stainless steel, an alloy, or the like), one or more polymers (such asplastic), some combination thereof, or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second body 106 threadingly engagesthe first body 104. Other embodiments, however, may include the firstand second bodies 104, 106 removably coupled to each other in differentways. For instance, the first and second bodies 104, 106 may beremovably coupled by detent mechanisms, clamps, straps, screws, bolts,or some other fasteners.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the second body 106 includes a second passage124 defined therein. Like the first body 104, the second passage 124extends completely through the second body 106, such that the one ormore cords 102 may pass therethrough. The second body 106 furtherincludes a female threaded section 126 extending along a portion of thesecond passage 124. In the illustrated embodiment, the female threadedsection 126 threadingly engages the male threaded section 112 of thefirst body 104 to removably couple the second body 106 to the first body104. The second passage 124 of the second body 106 also includes acylindrical section 128. In some embodiments, the cylindrical section128 of the second passage 124 includes the female threaded section 126therein. The second passage 124 further includes a frustoconical section130 in fluid communication with the cylindrical section 128. Thefrustoconical section 130 may be shaped to engage the clamping ring 110in some embodiments. Also in some embodiments, the frustoconical section120 of the first passage 118 and the frustoconical section 130 of thesecond passage 124 may cooperate to compress the bushing 108 and theclamping ring 110 axially toward each other as the first body 104 andthe second body 106 are coupled to each other. The frustoconical section130 of the second passage 124 may also function to retain the clampingring 110 and/or the bushing 108. In some embodiments, the second body106 further includes one or more sections of knurling 132 on the outersurface of the second body 106 to facilitate threadingly engaging thefirst body 104 with the second body 106. Of course, other structures,such as a series of flats, a series of concave indentations, arubberized section, or some other grip-facilitation may be utilized.

With reference to FIG. 3, the bushing 108 includes a single unitary bodyformed with two bushing passages 134 extending therethrough from a firstend 136 of the bushing 108 to a second end 138 of the bushing 108.Although the bushing passages 134 are illustrated as being circular incross-section, other cross-sectional shapes (triangular, elliptical,rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or the like) are contemplatedherein. The bushing 108 may be made of a polymer, such as rubber. Anexample of a synthetic rubber suitable for the bushing 108 is neoprene.The bushing 108 may be formed with a generally frustoconical shape so asto fit in the frustoconical section 120 of the first passage 118 to forma liquid-tight seal. The illustrated embodiment of the bushing 108resembles the shape of a cork or stopper.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, each of the bushing passages 134 areinterrupted by a membrane, or continuation, 140 of the bushing 108disposed along each of the respective bushing passages 134 between thefirst end 136 and the second end 138 of the bushing 108. In someembodiments, the membrane 140 is disposed midway along a length L1 ofthe respective bushing passage 134. In some embodiments, the membrane140 forms a liquid-tight seal across the respective bushing passage 134.In the illustrated embodiment, the membrane 140 has a thickness T1 thatis approximately one tenth (10%) of the measurement of the diameter D1(or width) of the bushing passage 134. Other embodiments may havethicker or thinner membranes 140. The illustrated embodiment may includea membrane 140 that has a thickness T1 of, for instance, less than orequal to 1 millimeter.

Although the illustrated embodiment includes the membrane 140 of eachbushing passage 134 being formed as a unitary part with the remainder ofthe bushing 134, some embodiments may include a membrane 140 that is ofa different material from the bushing 134. Such embodiments may include,for instance, the membrane 140 trapped between layers of the bushing134, affixed to the bushing 134 with adhesive, some combination thereof,or the like.

As shown in FIG. 7, the membrane 140 is configured to be pierced,broken, burst, removed, or otherwise opened to create a fluidcommunication in the respective bushing passage 134 from the first end136 to the second end 138 of the bushing 108. In some embodiments, auser may pierce the membrane 140 with, for instance, a screw driver inorder to open the bushing passage 134 for insertion of a cord 102therethrough. In this manner, a user may pierce the desired number ofmembranes 140 corresponding to the number of cords 102 to be passedthrough the cord connector 100, leaving the remaining unused bushingpassages 134 unpierced and, therefore, sealed without the need for asecondary sealing structure.

With reference to FIG. 3, the cord connector 100 also includes theclamping ring 110. The clamping ring 110 may be made of, for instance, apolymer material. In some embodiments, the clamping ring 110 is made ofnylon. The clamping ring 110 includes a gap 142 and a hinge 144. In theillustrated embodiment, the gap 142 and the hinge 144 are diametricallyopposed. The clamping ring 110 is placed between the first body 104 andthe second body 106 and facilitates in arranging and/or retaining theone or more cords 102 passing through the cord connector 100. In someembodiments, the clamping ring 110 includes a frustoconical surface 146that is shaped to engage the frustoconical surface 130 of the secondpassage 124.

Turning now to FIG. 8, the present disclosure also contemplates anotherembodiment of a cord connector 200. This second embodiment of a cordconnector 200 shares many components with the cord connector 100discussed above. Of course, the cord connectors 100, 200 need not besimilar as described herein, since the described embodiments are onlyexamples. For the second embodiment of a cord connector 200 describedherein, only differences from the cord connector 100 described abovewill be explored below. Similar components will be numbered with a valueof one hundred higher than the corresponding components from the cordconnector 100 above, and, as such, may not be explicitly described belowin the interest of brevity.

The second embodiment of a cord connector 200 includes four bushingpassages 234 defined in the bushing 208. As stated above, each of thebushing passages 234 is at least partially blocked/interrupted by arespective membrane, or continuation, 240 of the bushing 208. In someembodiments, the bushing 208 is larger in diameter to accommodate fourcords 202 of the same type as the cords 102 discussed above. In suchembodiments, the diameters of the first passage 218 and the secondpassage 224 may likewise be larger. Other embodiments may include abushing 208, first body 204, and second body 206 that are similar insize to those discussed above, making the cord connector 200 configuredto function with cords 202 that are smaller in diameter than the cords102 discussed above. The second embodiment of the cord connector 200functions in substantially the same manner as the cord connector 100discussed above. The second embodiment of the cord connector 200 isincluded herein to illustrate that the cord connectors 100, 200contemplated herein may have any appropriate number of bushing passages234 and corresponding respective membranes 240. Further embodiments mayinclude more or fewer bushing passages and respective membranes, such asthree, five, six, seven, or the like.

As stated above, the illustrated cord connectors 100, 200 may be usedfor wire/cord management. In some embodiments, the cord connectors 100,200, may hold the cords 102, 202 in a liquid-tight connection. In someembodiments, the cord connectors 100, 202 may preclude the need forsecondary sealing mechanisms to provide the liquid-tight connection.

The present disclosure also relates to a method of using (or a method ofinstalling) a cord connector 100, 200. A user may arrange the cordconnector 100, 200 such that the bushing 108, 208 and the clamping ring110, 210 are disposed between the first body 104, 204 and the secondbody 106, 206. The user may route a cord, or wire, 102, 202 through thefirst passage 118, 218 of the first body 104, 204. The user may alsopierce the membrane 140, 240 associated with and disposed in thecorresponding desired bushing passage 134, 234 of the bushing 108, 208,thereby opening the bushing passage 134, 234 for use. Once the membrane140, 240 has been broken, the user may route the cord 102, 202 throughthe bushing passage 134, 234. The cord 102, 202 is also routed throughthe second passage 124, 224 of the second body 106, 206. The clampingring 110, 210 is clamped around the one or more cords 102, 202 adjacentthe bushing 108, 208, and the bushing 108, 208 and clamping ring 110,210 are trapped between the first 104, 204 and second 106, 206 bodies bycoupling the second body 106, 206 to the first body 104, 204. A user maythen attach the cord connector 100, 200 to, for instance, a housing orjunction box. The user may leave unused bushing passages 134, 234unoccupied, thereby leaving their respective membranes 140, 240unbroken, which allows for the cord connector 100, 200 to form aliquid-tight seal without the need for additional secondary sealingstructures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cord connector for holding one or more cords,the cord connector comprising: a first body; a second body removablycoupled to the first body; and a bushing disposed between the first bodyand the second body, the bushing including at least two bushing passagesextending from a first end of the bushing toward a second end of thebushing, each bushing passage sealed with a membrane disposed within thebushing passage between the first end and the second end, the membraneconfigured to be pierced to open the bushing passage.
 2. The cordconnector of claim 1, wherein each unpierced membrane seals therespective bushing passage such that liquid is unable to pass throughthe bushing passage from the first end to the second end.
 3. The cordconnector of claim 1, wherein the at least two bushing passages includesfour bushing passages.
 4. The cord connector of claim 1, wherein thebushing is made of a polymer material.
 5. The cord connector of claim 4,wherein the bushing is made of rubber.
 6. The cord connector of claim 5,wherein the bushing is made of neoprene.
 7. The cord connector of claim1, wherein the first body includes a first passage, the bushing disposedat least partially within the first passage.
 8. The cord connector ofclaim 7, wherein the first body includes a male threaded section, themale threaded section including the first passage defined at leastpartially therein.
 9. The cord connector of claim 8, wherein the secondbody includes a female threaded section configured to mate with the malethreaded section such that the bushing is trapped between the first bodyand the second body.
 10. The cord connector of claim 1, furthercomprising a clamping ring disposed between the first body and thesecond body.
 11. The cord connector of claim 10, wherein the clampingring is made of a polymer material.
 12. The cord connector of claim 11,wherein the clamping ring is made of nylon.
 13. The cord connector ofclaim 1, wherein the membrane of each bushing passage is formed as aunitary part with the busing.
 14. The cord connector of claim 13,wherein each membrane includes a thickness that is less than or equal to1 millimeter.
 15. The cord connector of claim 1, wherein each bushingpassage is circular in cross-section.
 16. A cord connector for holdingone or more cords, the cord connector comprising: a first body includinga first passage defined therein; a second body removably coupled to thefirst body, the second body including a second passage defined therein;and a bushing disposed in at least one of the first passage and thesecond passage, the bushing including a plurality of bushing passagesdefined therein, each bushing passage at least partially blocked by acontinuation of the bushing that spans across a width of the bushingpassage.
 17. The cord connector of claim 16, wherein the continuation ofthe bushing spanning across the bushing passage completely seals thebushing passage.
 18. The cord connector of claim 16, wherein thecontinuation of the bushing spanning across the bushing passage isdisposed midway along a length of the bushing passage.
 19. The cordconnector of claim 16, wherein a thickness of the continuation of thebushing spanning across the bushing passage is less than or equal to 10%of the width of the bushing passage.
 20. A method of using a cordconnector, the method comprising: routing a cord through a first passageof a first body; piercing a membrane disposed in a bushing passage of abushing, thereby opening the bushing passage; routing the cord throughthe bushing passage; routing the cord through a second passage of asecond body; coupling the first body to the second body; and trappingthe bushing between the first body and the second body.